AMERICAN LEGION - GENSI-VIOLA - 1996-1997

GENSI-VIOLA POST 36 - 000 1996-97

Gensi-Viola post 36MEMORIAL HALL

THE AMERICAN LEGION POST WAS FIRST CHARTERED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1919 IN THE TOWN OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CT AND WAS THE 36th POST IN THE STATE, AND WAS NAMED "MEUSE-ARGONNE POST." THE NAME WAS DERIVED FROM THAT GREAT BATTLE DURING WW1. ON AUGUST 12, 1927, A SECOND CHARTER WAS ISSUED BECAUSE THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO "GENSI-VIOLA" AFTER TWO SOLDIERS, PRIVATE LOUIS GENSI AND PRIVATE FRANK VIOLA FROM WINDSOR LOCKS, WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN WW1.

PHOTO OF MEMORIAL HALL IN WINDSOR LOCKS, SHOWS BUILDING WHICH WAS DEDICATED IN 1890 TO HONOR THE VETERANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR. A PLAQUE IS MOUNTED ON THE WALL INSIDE THE BUILDING LISTING THEIR NAMES. IN 1953, A LARGE MONUMENT LISTING THOSE THAT FOUGHT IN WW1 AND WW2 WAS PLACED ON THE GROUNDS OF MEMORIAL HALL. A SEPARATE LISTING IS ALSO ADDED WITH NAMES OF THOSE THAT PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE. TO THE LEFT OF THIS MONUMENT AND AT A SLIGHT ANGLE WAS PLACED A SMALLER MONUMENT HONORING THOSE THAT SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR. TO THE RIGHT AND EQUALLY SPACED, IS A MONUMENT HONORING THOSE THAT SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. THOSE THAT SERVED IN OTHER CONFLICTS ARE NOW LISTED INSIDE OF THE BUILDING. BEAUTIFUL PLANTINGS SURROUND THE MONUMENTS WITH A PATHWAY OF SLATE FROM THE STREET SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT OF THE MONUMENTS. A LARGE FLAG POLE, CENTERED IN THE REAR OF THE MONUMENTS IS WHERE THE UNITED STATES AND MIA FLAGS ARE HOISTED. A LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE FLAGS AT NIGHT. CEMENT STANTIONS, AT THE PERIMETER OF THE ROADWAY AND EQUALLY SPACED WITH A CHAIN RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE GROUND THROUGH THEM, HELPS ENHANCE AND PROTECT THE MONUMENTS. MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONIES ARE CONDUCTED HERE AND THE AREA IS CONSIDERED HALLOWED GROUND IN HONOR OF ALL VETERANS WHO PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE.

INSTALLATION OF THE MONUMENTS ON THE GROUNDS OF MEMORIAL HALL HAD TO BE ONE OF THE PROUD MOMENTS OF THE POST, TOGETHER WITH THE HOME COMING PARADE THAT WAS HELD WHEN THE GULF WAR VETERANS RETURNED HOME. THE DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL HALL IN 1890 HAD TO BE LOOKED ON AS A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO THIS SMALL MILL TOWN BY THE PEOPLE OF THAT ERA. AFTER 110 YEARS, THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS ARE BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, AND ARE ADMIRED BY ALL.

POST 36 OCCUPIES MEMORIAL HALL WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF RT 159 AND RT 140, ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTH MAIN AND ELM STREETS, IN THE TOWN OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CT. POST EXECUTIVE MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE 2nd THURSDAY OF THE MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT 7:30 P.M. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE 3rd THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7:30 P.M. NONE ARE HELD IN JULY OR AUGUST. INVITED GUEST ARE WELCOME.